George Selwyn : $b His letters and his lifeSelwyn, George Augustus
History
George Selwyn : $b His letters and his life
Selwyn, George Augustus
Selwyn, George Augustus, 1719-1791; Selwyn, George Augustus, 1719-1791 -- Correspondence
(190) See letter of Feb. 19, 1782 below: "Weltie's Club is going to
give a masquerade . . ." and note (203).
CHAPTER 5. 1782. THE FALL OF LORD NORTH.
Fox's political principles--The fifth Duke of Bedford--A little
dinner--A debate in the Commons--The attack on Lord George Germaine
--Beckford--An evening at Brooks's--Pitt and his friends--Possible
changes in the Cabinet--Faro at White's--A story of the Duke of
Richmond--An address to the King--A levee--Play and politics at
Brooks's--Government and the Opposition--Selwyn and his offices--The
position of the King--Fears of change of administration--The King's
objections to Fox--Probable debates--Political prospects--Debates
and divisions--The fate of the King's friends--Illness of Lord
Morpeth--Annoyance of Selwyn at the state of affairs--Fox and
Selwyn--Fall of Lord North--A new Ministry--Official changes--Fox
and Carlisle--Carlisle's position--Morpeth and Mie Mie.
"The year 1782 is memorable for the fall of Lord
North. It was more than the end of a Ministry, to a great extent it
was the end of the system of personal government by the sovereign."
"The King," wrote Selwyn, on March 27th, "will have no more personal
friends, as Lord Hertford says; there will be no opposition to that
in this new Government, what a cipher his Majesty will be you may
guess." Selwyn had no great respect for the King, and not much
liking for his minister, Lord North. "I see him in no light, but
that of a Minister, and in that I see him full of defects, and of
all men I ever yet sate down to dinner with the most disagreeable.
But he is so, in part from a scholastic, puritanical education, to
which has been superadded the flattery of University parsons, led
captains, and Treasury dependants. Without this, he would have been
a pleasant companion. He has parts, information, and a good share of
real wit, and (is), I believe, not an ill-tempered man by any means.
But with all this, he has un commerce qui me rebute. As to what he
says, or promises, it is sur la foi de Ministre and credat Judeus,
but I never will." (May 15, 1781.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account